American man wants to see Toowoomba before he dies

by AndrewBackhouse

Andrew Backhouse
Journalist

I love studying history, particularly the Roman Republic, ancient Greece and the First French Empire.
My other interests include jogging, playing chess and watching documentaries.
There’s not a subject I’m not interested in and I love my job.
I’m always available for a chat especially over a wine or coffee.

BEST MATES: Matt Doran chats to his mate Aric Hoogerwerf in the United States. Aric is dying from cancer and would dearly love to visit Australia. Friday Jan 6, 2017.Nev Madsen

AN AMERICAN man with only months left to live has one wish before he dies - to visit Toowoomba.

Aric Hoogerwerf, 37, discovered in September he had non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system.

He met Toowoomba man Matt Doran about 10 years ago during a chance encounter on the online role-playing game World of Warcraft.

Mr Doran said they quickly developed a strong friendship, talking for up to 10 hours a day.

Aric Hoogerwerf with his dog Zeus.

The Toowoomba man was a "tank" type character and Mr Hoogerwerf a "healer", something that required intense cooperation.

Their bond grew and Mr Doran said he considered his friend, who he has never met in person, as family.

"We both had our hardships and helped each other through it," he said.

They had always planned to meet but when he found out the American had terminal cancer and wanted to visit Toowoomba, he said there was an added urgency.

Mr Hoogerwerf said the men both had children about the same age and were "like brothers".

Matt Doran wish for a mate:
Matt Doran would love to help a dying US friend to visit him in Toowoomba.

When he underwent back surgery and Mr Doran shoulder surgery they each had time off work and they sent each other finger puppets to cheer each other up. They are so close they even talk to each other's wives when the other is at work.

Mr Hoogerwerf said it was important to talk to friends and family about his condition and that included friends from around the world.

In December doctors told the Iowa man he had stage four of the cancer, which had progressed into his lungs and around his heart.

Chemotherapy and radiation treatment will likely only buy him another month of life and he made the decision to spend his remaining time making memories with his family.

He said the Dorans were like family and saying goodbye in person was something he wanted to do before he died.